5 Reasons Dental Hygiene Matters

Every October the American Dental Hygiene Association celebrates National Dental Hygiene Month in an effort to raise awareness about the important work that dental hygienists do. The month is dedicated to educating people about the importance of good oral health, and the effect that good oral health has on the overall health of the body.

Our team of licensed dental hygienists at River Run Dental frequently treat patients who do not fully understand the value of preventive dental care. Many people don’t see the full value in their regular dental hygiene visits, so they postpone or skip these visits until something begins to bother them. The goal of our dental hygiene team is to keep our patients as healthy as possible, and that means keeping our patients on a strict preventive dental hygiene schedule to prevent future health problems down the road.

Don’t delay your next visit to the dentist any longer, schedule an appointment with our dental hygiene team today!

Just how important is dental hygiene?

It is so important that it actually has a direct effect on your overall health. Recent studies have proven that poor oral health can result in heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s disease. The infographic below explores 5 Reasons Dental Hygiene matters.


1. Your dentist may be the first person to discover a major medical issue.

Many diseases, such as diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, and HIV first manifest themselves inside your mouth.

2. A teeth cleaning is just one of about 15 services that are provided at your regular dental checkup.

Other dental services include an oral cancer screening, a head and neck exam, a blood pressure screening, a gum evaluation, x-rays, and more!

3. More frequent dental visits result in more comfortable dental visits.

When you prolong the length of time between visits, you are likely to need more (potentially uncomfortable) dental work.

4. Preventive dental care cost less than extensive dental treatment.

If the cost of treatment is a concern for you, then you should prioritize your preventive dental visits.

5. Gum disease increases your risk for heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and certain head and neck cancers.

Visiting your dentist regularly can help keep gum problems under control so that they don’t progress to more serious issues.

POSTED IN: Dental Health, Dental Hygiene, Dental Tips